CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 3: Head coach Mike Pettine of the Cleveland Browns looks on during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 3: Head coach Mike Pettine of the Cleveland Browns looks on during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Packers coaching staff for next season is starting to take shape as MIke McCarthy looks to a former head coach to become his new defensive coordinator.

According to a report by ESPN, Green Bay is nearing a deal to hire former Browns head coach Mike Pettine. Prior to going to Cleveland, Pettine was a defensive coordinator for the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.

In his four seasons with Rex Ryan in New York, Pettine's defenses ranked in the top ten. That includes finishing as the top defense in the league back in 2009. Even after leaving the Jets, Pettine was able to put together a top ten defense with the Bills in 2013 before heading to Cleveland.

Pettine will take over a unit that finished last season ranked in the bottom half of the league in total defense. That includes a secondary that gave up 30 touchdowns, and finished 23rd in yards allowed. As well as a pass rush got to the quarterback for 37 sacks in 2017, good enough to finish near the middle of the pack in the NFL.

Pettine has not coached in the league since being fired by the Browns in 2015, but spent last season as a consultant with the Seattle Seahawks.

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